The Indianapolis Colts are examining all of the options heading into the draft, taking place April 23-25. Part of this was hosting a local Pro Day in the city.

An NFL Pro Day is a showcase for prospective talent that typically occurs at their colleges. They are similar to the combine in that they have a mix of both athletic abilities, position testing and interviews. These typically allow for athletes to be looked at in a closer manner since there are fewer people and it is with teammates.

Indianapolis hosts a pro day event annually to view local talent. Any player with regional collegiate ties can be invited to participate. This year, it was on April 7, and there were 73 players who participated.

The ability and resources the Colts have to host one themselves may be an advantage in the long run. All NFL teams have the option to do a pro day, but not every team does, so it is a way for the Colts to have a unique view on talent that other teams do not see. Instead of one college being represented, it allows for multiple to be seen at once while still having that connection between teammates.

This year in particular was a strong year for this event because of the success that Indiana University had in football. There were a lot of national championship-caliber players who were invited to come and get attention. Indiana, as a state, has various football programs to pull from, with Purdue, Indiana and Notre Dame being the main options.

There were no Notre Dame players on the list this year, but there was no shortage of talent. There were 16 Hoosiers invited to the event, a direct result of the success the program had. Among those in attendance were top draft prospect cornerback D’Angelo Ponds and wide receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarrat. Fernando Mendoza was not in attendance but did participate in Indiana University’s pro day earlier in the month. Ponds is predicted to be a first-round pick, according to ESPN.

Top draft prospects were not expected to participate in workouts, but did do the media portion of the event. This gave the athletes a chance to talk with ownership and football executives ahead of the draft. For less notable athletes, the workouts give them another chance to be seen and considered as undrafted or practice players. The Colts get exclusive looks and insight on players that could lead to different draft decisions or spot new talent.

For Indianapolis, the level of skill at this pro day was unlike any other year, raising the bar overall for players in the future. With Curt Cignetti signing a contract through 2033, it is likely to continue. Cignetti creates a culture of success that attracts top talent, which in turn draws that talent to Indianapolis.

With the level of play rising at the collegiate level, the Colts are seeing a rise in talent as well. It would be nice to see a local player drafted to a local program, but either way, the Colts get to see and know players better. With these pro days not being a standard around the league, it is an advantage, especially with the added talent Cignetti will bring in.